Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf: his next job, standup comedian?

[korn469]

Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf Iraq's Minister of Information, this guy really cracks me up! I love how he manages to seem upbeat and easy going even as everything crumbles around him. He's either brave or stupid to be giving press conferences on the street while we're raiding bahgdad. Here is one of his funniest quotes from today

The soldiers of Saddam Hussein have given them a lesson they will never forget!

if he does't get killed, think he has a shot of not being charged as a war criminal?

[GePap]

Well, has he actually commited any war crimes? just being part of the government isn't enough to get you charged.

well, he got his 15 miniytes of fame. And way better than the Taliban guy; better outfit too.

[spiritof1202]

I'd keep him, just to have him repeat his statements week after week on SNL

[DinoDoc]

He'd have to learn English first but he might have a future in comedy. You're the second person I've heard who has said that he had them in stitches.

[Ted Striker]

avatar material

[mindseye]

I love him! I think he's doing a masterful job! Can you imagine a more difficult PR position? Enemy tanks are rolling through the streets of your capital, and your job is to appear on the entire planet's television and put the best face possible on it.

Yes, some of the claims are hilariously over-the-top ("There are no villians within 100 miles of Baghdad!"), but he delivers them with such wry panache.

I hope there is a place for him in the US media after the dust settles. At the very least, he could have a new career as a "talking head" expert for network news commentary.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by GePap
Well, has he actually commited any war crimes? just being part of the government isn't enough to get you charged.

Tell that to Albert Speer (the real one).

[Asher]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
He'd have to learn English first but he might have a future in comedy. You're the second person I've heard who has said that he had them in stitches.

He can speak pretty good English English fairly well.

[Edit: Pre-emptive grammar-nazi strike, seeing as Boris posted in this thread.]

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov

Tell that to Albert Speer (the real one).

I'd tend to think that designing places like Chelmno, Treblinka (and Auschwitz?) may have had some influence here...
He was also a major voice in the push to use allied POW's and conquered civilians in the slave-labour batallions IIRC.

Mohammed may also have an 'unsavoury' past, as might most of Saddams loyal henchmen. That said though, his tirades on Iraqi TV alone shouldn't be enough to warrant a war crimes tribunal.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Tell that to Albert Speer (the real one).

Albert Speer oversaw a huge forced labor system.

I think Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf would be a great actor for every cheesy movie (and you know there'll be millions) with a mid-east dictator or some similar bad guy role.

Taha Yassin Ramadan would also be great, but he has t end up against a wall, if he doesn't end up under one.

[Alexander's Horse]

An avatar change was in order

[Boris Godunov]

Hmm, thought Speer had only designed monumental stuff...are you sure he designed camps? I thought that was one of the reasons he wasn't executed, that he had no (proven) hand in those...

[Ted Striker]

I love that serious, determined look on his face!!!

[Ned]

I think he would be a good press spokesman for any of the pro-Saddam democrats running for president.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
Hmm, thought Speer had only designed monumental stuff...are you sure he designed camps? I thought that was one of the reasons he wasn't executed, that he had no (proven) hand in those...

I think so. 'Design' may not be such a good word, although a book I was reading a few weeks ago used it. Conceived, envisioned, thought up, may be better.
He has been described as 'instrumental' in several texts.



LOL@AH